The Practice of Darts Around the World
Long confined to the image of a simple British pub pastime, darts has become a global sport-spectacle. Who actually plays darts today? Where is this sport most popular?
The Geography of "Darts"
Darts practice is not uniform across the globe. There's a very strong concentration in Northwestern Europe.
The European "Golden Triangle"
The United Kingdom remains the birthplace and largest market. However, two other nations have become superpowers.
Global market share
Dominance of the European market, with the UK in the lead.
United Kingdom
The historic birthplace of the game
Germany
The new giant, largest TV market outside UK
Netherlands
Impressive player density
The Rest of the World
Countries like Belgium, Austria, or Australia have solid bases. North America and Asia are growing markets.
Demographics: A Sport Getting Younger
The stereotype of the aging darts player is outdated. The festive marketing of major tournaments has attracted a new generation.
Distribution by age group
The 25-44 age group is the heart of the practice.
Active Age Groups
25-45 year olds make up the majority of regular players, while the under-25 share is constantly growing.
The emergence of very young prodigies, performing at the highest level from age 16 or 17, is inspiring a new wave of young practitioners.
The Gender Question
Historically, darts is an ultra-masculine sport, a legacy of pub culture.
A Still Marked Imbalance
In most amateur leagues, the proportion of men remains overwhelming, often estimated around 80%.
The Wind of Change
The creation of dedicated professional circuits (like the PDC Women's Series) and the media coverage of successful female players have sparked change. Women's practice is the segment experiencing the strongest growth.
Gender distribution evolution
📈 Trend: +3% women per decade
Although still a minority, the share of women shows the strongest growth dynamic.
Conclusion
The world of darts has achieved a transition that few traditional sports have managed. The future lies in continued rejuvenation and acceleration of feminization, which represents the greatest growth reservoir.
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